Portioning device for doughy material

ABSTRACT

A hopper supplies doughy material to a rotary gear pump which may also be supplied with liquid, and the rotary gear pump pumps the supplied material through an outlet. A constantly rotating crank mechanism drives the pump through a driving mechanism including two one-way clutches or free-wheeling devices, arranged to permit rotation in respective opposite directions. One one-way clutch allows driving of the gear pump in only one direction, and the other one-way clutch is interposed between the pump drive shaft and a fixed portion of the device to prevent reverse rotation and backlash of the pump. A connecting rod included in the crank mechanism is connected to a slide which is radially adjustable of a constantly rotating crank disk, and the position of the slide is adjustable by a threaded spindle which is driven, through bevel gearing, by a shaft extending through a tubular drive shaft for the crank disk. A differential gearing is interposed between the tubular shaft and the drive shaft for the threaded spindle, and is adjustable by a manually operable adjusting wheel to set the magnitude of the portions delivered by the pump during each stroke of the crank mechanism.

United States Patent 11 1 Schnell [45i Jan. 8, 1974 1 PORTIONING DEVICE FOR DOUGHY MATERIAL [76] Inventor: Karl Schnell, Karlstrasse 7065,

Winterbach, Germany 221 Filed: May 3,1971

21 Appl.No.: 139,605

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 12, 1970 Germany P 20 23 034.6

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 991,802 5/1911 Robinson 417/319 X 1,997,370 4/1935 LeVesconte 418/69 2,715,991 8/1955 Frank et a1. 141/183 X FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 233,265 5/1925 Great Britain 418/171 Primary Examiner-William L. Freeh Assistant Examiner-Leonard Smith Attorney-John J. McGlew and Alfred E. Page [57] ABSTRACT A hopper supplies doughy material to a rotary gear pump which may also be supplied with liquid, and the rotary gear pump pumps the supplied material through an outlet. A constantly rotating crank mechanism drives the pump through a driving mechanism including two one-way clutches or free-wheeling devices, arranged to permit rotation in respective opposite directions. One one-way clutch allows driving of the gear pump in only one direction, and the other one-way clutch is interposed between the pump drive shaft and a fixed portion of the device to prevent reverse rotation and backlash of the pump. A connecting rod included in the crank mechanism is connected to a slide which is radially adjustable of a constantly rotating crank disk, and the position of the slide is adjustable by a threaded spindle which is driven, through bevel gearing, by a shaft extending through a tubular drive shaft for the crank disk. A differential gearing is interposed between the tubular shaft and thedrive shaft for the threaded spindle, and is adjustable by a manually operable adjusting wheel to set the magnitude of the portions delivered by the pump during each stroke of the crank mechanism.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATEHTEDJAN 8W 3. 784.332

SHEEI 1 OF 3 Y 35 F' V 31 1 IN V EN TOR.

KAR SCHNELL.

PATENTEUJAH 81974 3,784,332

sum 2 [IF 3 mmvrm KARL SQHN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Portioning devices are used to dispense portions of material supplied to the devices or contained in an associated storage vessel. If the material, which is filled into packages, casings, guts, or the like, is sold by the piece, rather than by the weight, the portioning device must apportion the material with high accuracy in order to avoid underweight or overweight of the individual packages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to portioning devices for doughy material and, more particularly, to an improved portioning device in which the size of each portion can be set accurately even during operation of the portioning device.

The problem to which the present invention is directed is to provide an adjustable portioning device making possible a highly accurate portioning. ln addition, the portioning device is intended to be adjustable, to insure the possibility of its diversified application, as well as being able to regulate exactly the desired quan tity or portion ejected.

To this end, a portioning device embodying the invention includes a pump having a rotating pumping or transporting mechanism, this mechanism being driven intermittently by a ratchet gear, a crank drive with a free-wheel or one-way clutch, or the like. Any pump normally rotating continuously is suitable. However, since a ratchet gear or a crank drive, provided with at least one free-wheel or one-way clutch is connected between the pump drive and the impeller or the like of the pump, the pump is driven intermittently. Thus, for each stroke of the ratchet gear, or of a crank rod designed as a connecting rod, a very specific angular displacement or rotational movement of the pump impeller or the like, and hence a very accurately determined quantity ejected by the pump, is correlated. This quantity can be varied continuously by varying the stroke of the driving mechanism. When using a crank drive, the interposition of a free-wheelingor one-way clutch is, as has been mentioned, unnecessary. This insures that the reciprocating movement of the crank rod or connecting rod drives the pumping or transport mechanism in only one direction, thus preventing a sucking back of the material already ejected.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of theinvention, the pump is designed as a gear pump including an internal ring gear rotating in a housing and a driven pinion meshing with the ring gear. The pinion transmits rotation to the internal ring gear which is rotatably mounted loosely in the pump housing.,The teeth of the pinion, entering into the filled gaps between the teeth of the internal ring gear, displaces the transported material in the direction of rotation and pushes it into the outlet aperture or apertures. If several substances are to be mixed in the pump before ejection, the pump may include two or more feed apertures or inlets. In the case of sausage making, one fillingaperture may be connected with a filling funnel and a second aperture with a line supplying liquids.

As another feature of the invention, there are mounted, on the pinion drive shaft, two free-wheel or one-way clutches acting in respective opposite directions, one being connected between the crank drive and the drive shaft of the pump and the other between the pump drive shaft and a fixed part of the portioning device. The second free-wheel or one-way clutch acts as a precisely working braking device against a possible, but undesired, reverse rotation of the pumping mechanism or the like. During the working stroke of the portioning device, this second free-wheel or oneway clutch runs free while, during the return stroke of the crank drive or of the ratchet gear, it holds the pump drive shaft against reverse rotation.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, that end of the crank rod connected with a crank disk of the crank drive is pivotally connected to a sliding piece or the like which is adjustable and fixable in a radial direction on the crank disk. The crank disk is driven continuously by an associated drive motor, possibly with the interposition of a transmission gearing. The crank rod or connecting rod, which effects intermittent rotation of the pump drive shaft, is thus pivotally connected with the crank disk with an adjustable crank throw." The sliding piece or slide, designed in the manner of a sliding block, is provided for adjustment of the crank stroke or, respectively, the angular displacement of the rotary pump mechanism. The slide is preferably mounted in a guideway or groove extending radially of the crank disk, and has a threaded bore extending therethrough which is engaged by a drivable threaded spindle. Rotation of the spindle reciprocates the slide along the groove, the slide being restrained against rotation by thegroove and being fixed against radial movement, except responsive to rotation of the spindle, by a threaded engagement with the spindle. Advantageously, the threaded spindle is connected directly, or through an intermediate gearing indirectly, with a setting member, in particular a hand-wheel. As a further feature of the invention, the crank disk drive shaft is tubular and has extending therethrough and substantially coaxially therewith an adjusting shaft for the threaded spindle, the adjusting shaft and the threaded spindle being connected through a pair of intermeshing bevel gears. The end of the adjusting shaft remote from the pair of bevel gears is connected with the setting member. v

As a further feature of the invention, the end of the adjusting shaft remote from the threaded spindle is connected to the setting member through a compensating or bevel gear differential gearing, having a ring bevel gear connected with the driving meansfor the crank disk. The differential gearing also has a bev'el gear secured on a shaft connected to the setting member and a second bevel gear connected to the adjusting shaft for the spindle. The differential gearing, as well as the coaxial arrangement of the adjusting shaft, for the threaded spindle, and' the drive shaft, for the crank disk, make it possible to adjust the radial position of the slide, and thus the stroke of the crank rod, during operation of the device, that is, during rotation of the crank disk.

While the device is running, the adjusting shaft and the drive shaft rotate at the same angular velocity while, upon actuation of the setting member, and through the diffential gearing, a differential angular velocity of these two elements is produced. This results in a rotation of the threaded spindle and hence radial displacement of the slide. On the basis of this feature of the invention, a particularly quick and accurate regulation of the portion quantity to be ejected is possible. if

this somewhat expensive construction were not provided, varying of the portion sizes would require stopping the device each time and starting it up again after the adjustment. Since an accurate setting of the desired ejected quantity requires several adjustments, this latter method is complicated and time consuming.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved portioning device for doughy materials.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device which provides accurate quantities of material for each portion.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device which is adjustable, as to the quantity of each portion ejected thereby, during operation of the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device which is simple in construction and economical in operation.

For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference is made to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view, partly in section, of a portioning device embodying the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a somewhat schematic plan view of the crank drive;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view, partly in section, of another embodiment of a portioning device in accordance with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, the material to be divided into portions is supplied to a feed pump 1, designed as a gear pump, through a funnel or hopper 2 and through an inlet 3. Gear pump 1 has an internally threaded ring gear, or transport wheel, 4 which has not been shown in detail, as well as a drivable pinion 5 meshing with gear 4. The portions exit from pump 1 through outlet 46 which can be connected, for example, with a spout.

Pinion 5 is rotated by a drive shaft 6, and the drive is effected intermittently through a crank drive 7 (FIG. 2), that is, pinion 5 is rotated, at intervals, through equal but limitedly adjustable angles. Between crank drive 7 and drive shaft 6 there are interposed two freewheel or one-way clutches 8 and 9, which permit rotation of drive shaft 6 in only one direction of rotation. The first free-wheel or one-way clutch 8 which, like the second clutch 9, consists, in the usual manner, of an inner ring 10 (FIG. 2), an outer ring 11 and engaging pieces 12 arranged between rings 10 and 11, is connected between crank rod 13 and drive shaft 6, while the second clutch 9 is positioned between drive shaft 6 and a fixed part 14 of the portioning device. As has been stated, the two free-wheel or one-way clutches are operative in respective opposite directions of rotation.

Crank 7 comprises the already mentioned crank rod or connecting rod 13, which has one end pivotally connected with a component 15 receiving the first freewheel or one-way clutch 8. The other end of connecting rod 13 is pivotally connected with a sliding component 16, designed in the manner of a sliding block or slide, and slide 16 is displaceable radially, in the direction of the double arrow 17, in a radial groove 18 of crank disk 19. Displacement of slide 16 effects an increase or a reduction of the angle of rotation 20 of part 15, or of pinion 5 of pump 1. Through this arrangement, consequently, the angular displacement of the rotary mechanism of pump 1, during each cycle, can be varied, and thus the size of the ejected quantity of portion can be adjusted. Displacement of slide 16 is effected by a drivable threaded spindle 21 rotatably mounted in crank disk 19 and carrying, at one end, a bevel gear 22 which forms, with another bevel gear 23, a bevel gear pair 24. Bevel gear 23 is secured to the upper end 25 of an adjusting shaft 26 which extends vertically and which has another bevel gear 27 secured to its lower end. Bevel gear 27 meshes with a bevel gear 28 which is connected, by a shaft 29, with a bevel gear 30 of a compensating or differential gear 31 secured against rotation. A bevel gear 32 of this gearing is connected, through a shaft 33 which is coaxial with shaft 29, to a portion adjusting hand-wheel 34. As stated, bevel gear 30 is connected, by shaft 29, to the bevel gear pair 35 consisting of gear pairs 27 and 28. The other two bevel gears 36, 37 of differential gearing 31 are rotatably mounted on ring gear 38, and mesh with bevel gears 30 and 32. Ring bevel gear 38 is concentric or coaxial with shaft 33 of adjusting wheel 34. Through bevel gear 39, as well as tubular shaft 40 of crank disk 39, and through bevel gear pair 43, consisting of bevel gears 41, 42, there exists a force-transmitting connection with drive shaft 44 of motor 45.

Due to the illustrated arrangement of adjusting shaft 26 extending telescopically and coaxially through tubular shaft 40 of crank disk 19, as well as the use of the bevel gear pairs and the compensating or differential gearing 31, slide 16 can be reciprocated radially, in the direction of double arrow 17, while crank disk 19 is rotating, by means of adjusting wheel 34 which normally is stationary. Thus, an adjustment of the portion size, during operation of the invention device, is readily possible. When adjusting wheel 34 is not actuated, adjusting shaft 26 and tubular shaft 40, which latter constitutes the actual crank disk drive shaft, rotate at equal speeds. However, by actuation of setting member 34, which is designed as a hand-wheel, there is caused a relative rotation between shafts 26 and 40, and thus a radial adjustment of slide 16.

The second free-wheel or one-way clutch 9 is connected with fixed part 14 of the device through a holding arm 47. However, holding arm 47 must be understood to be merely representative, that is, such connection can be effected by other means, for example, by a tubular housing or the like.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3, the element 15, and the crank arm connected thereto, as well as the one-way clutch elements embraced by the element 15, are replaced by a ratchet mechanism as in- 'dicated at 48. The pawl of ratchet mechanism 48 is pivotally connected to the connecting link 13 and appropriately guided for linear reciprocation and for cooperation with the ratchet wheel secured to the drive shaft 6 for the pinion 5. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, as in the embodiment of FIG. 1, pinion 5 is intermittently driven in only one direction, namely the direction for feeding of the material to the outlet 46.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable portioning device for doughy mate rial, such as sausage meat, comprising, in combination, a pump including rotatable pumping mechanism; driving mechanism operable to drive said pumping mechanism intermittently; said pump being a gear pump including an internal ring gear rotating in a housing and a driven pinion meshing with said ring gear; a pump drive shaft connected to said pinion; and two one-way drive means connected to said pump drive shaft; said driving mechanism comprising a crank drive; one oneway drive means being interposed between said crank drive and said pump drive shaft, and the other one-way drive means being interposed between said pump drive shaft and a fixed part of said portioning device.

2. An adjustable portioning device for doughy material, such as sausage meat, comprising, in combination, a pump including rotatable pumping mechanism; driving mechanism operable to drive said pumping mechanism intermittently; at least one one-way drive means interposed in said driving mechanism; said driving mechanism comprising a crank drive; said crank drive including a rotatable crank disk; a slide adjustable and fixable radially of said crank disk; a connecting rod having one end pivotally connected with said slide and its opposite end operatively connected with a drive shaft of said pumping mechanism; said crank disk being formed with a radially extending guideway receiving said slide; said slide having a threaded bore extending therethrough radially of said crank disk; a drivable threaded spindle threadedly engaged in said bore; a tubular driving shaft secured to said crank disk; an adjusting shaft for said threaded spindle extending coaxially through said tubular crank disk drive shaft; and a bevel gear pair connecting said adjusting shaft to said threaded spindle.

3. An adjustable portioning device, as claimed in claim 2, including a bevel differential gearing connecting that end of said adjusting shaft remote from said threaded spindle with said setting member; said differ- 6 ential gearing including a ring gear; driving means for said crank disk connected to said ring gear; said differential gearing including two coaxial bevel gears, one connected with said setting member and the other connected with said adjusting shaft.

4. An adjustable portioning device for doughy material, such as sausage meat, comprising, in combination, a pump including rotatable pumping mechanism; driving mechanism operable to drive said pumping mechanism intermittently; at least one one-way drive means interposed in said driving mechanism; said driving mechanism comprising a crank drive; said crank drive including a rotatable crank disk; a slide adjustable and fixable radially of said crank disk; a connecting rod having one end pivotally connected with said slide and its opposite end operatively connected with a drive shaft of said pumping mechanism; and means operable to adjust said slide radially of said crank said means including an adjusting member extending coaxially said crank disk whereby said slide may be adjusted radially said crank disk during rotation of said crank disk.

5. An adjustable portioning device, as claimed in claim 7, in which said adjusting member is connected directly with a portion quantity setting member.

6. An adjustable portioning device, as claimed in claim 7, in which said adjusting member is connected through intermediate gearing with a portion quantity setting member.

7. An adjustable portioning device, as claimed in claim 6, in which said crank disk is formed with a radially extending guideway receiving; said slide; said slide having a threaded bore extending therethrough radially of said crank disk; and a drivable threaded spindle threadedly engaged in said bore and connected to said adjusting member.

8. An adjustable partitioning device, as claimed in claim 7, including a hand-wheel operable to rotate said threaded spindle through said adjusting member. 

1. An adjustable portioning device for doughy material, such as sausage meat, comprising, in combination, a pump including rotatable pumping mechanism; driving mechanism operable to drive said pumping mechanism intermittently; said pump being a gear pump including an internal ring gear rotating in a housing and a driven pinion meshing with said ring gear; a pump drive shaft connected to said pinion; and two one-way drive means connected to said pump drive shaft; said driving mechanism comprising a crank drive; one one-way drive means being interposed between said crank drive and said pump drive shaft, aNd the other one-way drive means being interposed between said pump drive shaft and a fixed part of said portioning device.
 2. An adjustable portioning device for doughy material, such as sausage meat, comprising, in combination, a pump including rotatable pumping mechanism; driving mechanism operable to drive said pumping mechanism intermittently; at least one one-way drive means interposed in said driving mechanism; said driving mechanism comprising a crank drive; said crank drive including a rotatable crank disk; a slide adjustable and fixable radially of said crank disk; a connecting rod having one end pivotally connected with said slide and its opposite end operatively connected with a drive shaft of said pumping mechanism; said crank disk being formed with a radially extending guideway receiving said slide; said slide having a threaded bore extending therethrough radially of said crank disk; a drivable threaded spindle threadedly engaged in said bore; a tubular driving shaft secured to said crank disk; an adjusting shaft for said threaded spindle extending coaxially through said tubular crank disk drive shaft; and a bevel gear pair connecting said adjusting shaft to said threaded spindle.
 3. An adjustable portioning device, as claimed in claim 2, including a bevel differential gearing connecting that end of said adjusting shaft remote from said threaded spindle with said setting member; said differential gearing including a ring gear; driving means for said crank disk connected to said ring gear; said differential gearing including two coaxial bevel gears, one connected with said setting member and the other connected with said adjusting shaft.
 4. An adjustable portioning device for doughy material, such as sausage meat, comprising, in combination, a pump including rotatable pumping mechanism; driving mechanism operable to drive said pumping mechanism intermittently; at least one one-way drive means interposed in said driving mechanism; said driving mechanism comprising a crank drive; said crank drive including a rotatable crank disk; a slide adjustable and fixable radially of said crank disk; a connecting rod having one end pivotally connected with said slide and its opposite end operatively connected with a drive shaft of said pumping mechanism; and means operable to adjust said slide radially of said crank said means including an adjusting member extending coaxially said crank disk whereby said slide may be adjusted radially said crank disk during rotation of said crank disk.
 5. An adjustable portioning device, as claimed in claim 7, in which said adjusting member is connected directly with a portion quantity setting member.
 6. An adjustable portioning device, as claimed in claim 7, in which said adjusting member is connected through intermediate gearing with a portion quantity setting member.
 7. An adjustable portioning device, as claimed in claim 6, in which said crank disk is formed with a radially extending guideway receiving said slide; said slide having a threaded bore extending therethrough radially of said crank disk; and a drivable threaded spindle threadedly engaged in said bore and connected to said adjusting member.
 8. An adjustable partitioning device, as claimed in claim 7, including a hand-wheel operable to rotate said threaded spindle through said adjusting member. 